Vol. 5 / No. 12
DECEMBER 2002
For full story about CSEA’s fight against the rising costs of prescription drugs,
see pages 10 and 11
Photo of the Month
Members of CSEA’s Nassau County Local take part in
the “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” 5K walk
held in October at Jones Beach. The local raised more
than $20,000 for breast cancer research and education.
CSEA officer injured
STONY POINT — A workplace accident has left CSEA
Town of Stony Point Unit President Richard Ryder with
serious head injuries.
Ryder, a mechanic for the town who has served as the
unit president for about a year, was unloading materials
from a truck at the town’s Parks Department garage on
Oct. 30 when an item on the truck suddenly shifted and
knocked him to the ground. Ryder had been standing
close to the ground on a gate near a side-truck lift at the
time of the accident.
CSEA Occupational Safety & Health Specialist Gary
China and Rockland County Local President William J.
Riccaldo are investigating the incident.
“(These incidents) are getting way too common,”
Riccaldo said. “Local and state governments should put
more efforts together to help our workers stay safe at
work. The rate of these workplace injuries is escalating,
and we need to look hard at this problem.”
— Janice Marra
CSEA President Danny
Donohue to visit Long Island
CSEA President Danny Donohue will visit the CSEA
Long Island Region on Friday, Dec. 6 to meet with
members.
The meetings will be held at the CSEA Long Island
Region office, 3 Garet Place, Commack.
Donohue will meet with union members from 1 to 7
p.m. Please call the Long Island Region office at
(631) 462-0030 to sign up for a visit and for directions.
Page
2
THE WORK FORCE
December 2002
CSEA rips Nassau
budget, merit scheme
MINEOLA — CSEA is blasting Nassau
County’s slash-and-burn 2003 budget
proposal, a $2.28 billion plan that
would increase the county’s property
taxes by 19.4 percent and cut the
county work force 15 percent.
While the job cuts include
positions already eliminated through
attrition and early retirement, they
essentially leave a skeleton staff
carrying an increasing workload.
The situation is similar to what
localities are experiencing across the
state as new Medicaid mandates
draw revenue from county budgets.
The state also is experiencing
revenue shortfalls that could create
similar cuts in jobs and services.
“By further reducing public
services, lawmakers are eroding the
very quality of life for area residents.
It is no longer muscle tissue they’re
cutting. They’re eating away at the
very bone structure — the work
force — that continues to make
Nassau County great. Any further
erosion of the fabric of our present
quality of life, presents real danger
for the entire community,” said CSEA
Nassau County Local President Jane
D’Amico.
D’Amico made specific reference
to cuts that would endanger public
safety, in a county long touted for its
low crime statistics.
As part of his multi-year plan to
close the deficit, the county
executive has devised a unilateral
plan he says would evaluate county
workers and give some workers
merit pay raises.
“Offering merit bonuses to 10
percent of our members is a ruse to
pit members against each other,”
D’Amico said.
“Eighty percent of our members
will get nothing and 10 percent will
get fired under the county
executive’s plan.”
The budget (and multi-year plan)
must pass muster with the Nassau
Interim Finance Authority, a stateappointed watchdog agency that has
the authority to take over Nassau
County’s finances if county officials
can’t maintain a balanced budget.
— Rachel Langert
Erie budget give-and-take
BUFFALO — CSEA leaders in Erie
County are relieved that a proposed
$l.13 billion county budget for 2003
avoids a raise in property taxes or
job cuts, but they are concerned
that the plan leaves 640 vacant job
slots unfilled.
The vacancies include about 400
positions left by employees taking
early retirement.
The budget also omits $9 million
in funding needed by Erie County
Medical Center to cover its
anticipated budget deficit. County
Executive Joel Giambra said he
would be willing to provide the
hospital that money only with union
support for the restructuring of the
hospital as a public benefit
corporation.
CSEA has been in talks about the
wording of such an arrangement, but
has yet to reach an agreement.
“We're happy that no layoffs are
proposed in the county executive's
budget, but we're cut to the bone
now, and understaffing will make for
a pretty grim situation on the job for
our members. We will be lobbying
the legislature to fill the jobs of
those who retired. It’s only fair,” said
Mike Bogulski, Erie County Local and
unit president.
“We will continue trying to reach
an agreeable solution (on the PBC
issue). We’ve answered many PBC
questions our hospital members
have, and will be doing the same this
week for our members at the Erie
County Home, who will also be
affected by any decision,” said ECMC
Section President Joan Bender.
— Ron Wofford
CSEA gets out the vote across NY
C
SEA pulled out all the
stops this November in
statewide and municipal
elections, with endorsed
candidates winning offices
across the state.
CSEA’s endorsed candidate
for governor, Carl McCall, and
lieutenant governor, Dennis
Mehiel, did not win their races.
CSEA’s backed candidate for
state comptroller, Alan Hevesi,
did win. Incumbent Eliot
Spitzer, whom CSEA also
endorsed, easily won reelection.
“We are proud of our efforts
on behalf of all candidates,
including gubernatorial
candidate Carl McCall. We
congratulate Governor Pataki
on his victory and will work
with him in the next four years
on the unprecedented
challenges New York faces,”
said CSEA President Danny
Donohue. Donohue also thanks
all CSEA members, staff and
activists for their hard work in
the campaign.
Statewide efforts
Hundreds of CSEA activists
took part in numerous
activities over the past several
months to get out the vote.
Union members staffed phone
banks, dropped off literature
and held rallies for candidates.
CSEA Southern Region PAC
Chair Micki Thoms greets
state Attorney General Eliot
Spitzer during a rally. Spitzer
easily won re-election with
CSEA support.
Speakers also encouraged
union members to vote at local,
unit and general membership
meetings.
“The support of our activists
was tremendous,” said Dorothy
Breen, CSEA’s statewide
Political Action Committee
chair. “Across the state, our
folks did everything they could
to get the candidates who will
make a difference for our
members elected to office.”
Key win in north
One place where activism
made the difference was in the
North Country, where CSEA’s
endorsed candidate for sheriff
ousted a long-time office
holder.
CSEA-endorsed sheriff
candidate David Favro beat the
incumbent Jack Lawliss to take
the sheriff’s seat by a margin of
57 to 43 percent. After having
many labor management
grievances and lawsuits filed
against the former sheriff, CSEA
decided to get involved and
backed Favro.
“Our activists campaigned
long and hard for Favro,” said
Joe Musso, Clinton County
local president.
“The endorsement really
meant something to the
campaign. It led the way for
building the momentum that
led to victory,” he said.
Also in the Capital Region,
despite Democrat Albany
Mayor Jerry Jennings’
endorsement of Gov. George
Pataki, the McCall/Mehiel ticket
won the city.
CSEA hosted a pre-election
get out the vote rally outside
the union’s Albany
headquarters with U.S. Sen.
Hillary Rodham Clinton and
U.S. Rep. Michael McNulty.
In CSEA’s Southern Region,
activists and volunteers spent
long hours in a variety of
chores to get out the vote and
drum up interest in CSEA-
CSEA President Danny Donohue fires up the crowd as U.S. Sen.
Hillary Rodham Clinton lends her support in a get-out-the-vote
rally at CSEA Headquarters in Albany. Also on the dias are
CSEA Executive Vice President Mary Sullivan, Capital Region
President Kathy Garrison, Treasurer Maureen Malone and
Secretary Barbara Reeves. Below, CSEA’s state Comptrollerelect Alan Hevesi.
endorsed candidates.
“We worked hard right up
and through Election Day.
Phone banks, lit drops,
visibility for the candidates,
rallies, you name it, we did it,”
said Southern Region Political
Action Committee Chair Micki
Thoms.
“I’m very proud of
everyone’s effort,” she added.
Several campaign offices
were run by CSEA volunteers,
tens of thousands of phone
calls made, boxes of literature
distributed, and numerous
other campaign activities were
performed by CSEA members.
Strong returns
Overall, 89 percent of CSEA’s
endorsed candidates won
election throughout the
Hudson Valley (excluding
statewide offices). CSEA’s
leadership and activism in
campaigns throughout the
region mirrored those across
the state, maintaining and
increasing the union’s
reputation as a major political
force.
CSEA’s Central Region
endorsed a total of 77
candidates, 66 percent
Republican, 33 percent
Democrat and 1 percent
December 2002
Conservative.
The region won
86 percent of
the races it
endorsed.
Several races
in CSEA’s
Western Region
remained in
contention at
press time after
a court ordered
impoundment
required all absentee ballots
from the General Election not
to be opened and counted
before Monday, Nov. 11.
In CSEA’s Long Island Region,
nearly all of the union’s
endorsed candidates won their
races, while in the union’s
Metro Region, CSEA endorsed
candidate Mike Cusick won
with 55 percent of the vote in
the 63rd Assembly District.
Particularly important on
Long Island was the 1st
Congressional District race,
won by CSEA’s endorsed
candidate Tim Bishop.
Full results of CSEA-endorsed
state legislative and
congressional races are
available on CSEA’s web site:
www.csealocal1000.net.
THE WORK FORCE
Page
3
ISSN 1522-1091
Official publication of
CSEA Local 1000, AFSCME, AFL-CIO
143 Washington Ave.
Albany, NY 12210-2303
Danny Donohue, President
STEPHEN A. MADARASZ
Communications Director & Publisher
STANLEY HORNAK
Deputy Director of Communications
LOU HMIELESKI
Executive Editor
AMY SCHARF
Associate Editor
CATHLEEN HORTON
Graphic Production Specialist
JANICE M. KUCSKAR
Graphic Production Specialist
BETH McINTYRE
Communications Assistant
The Work Force (USPS 0445-010) is
published monthly by The CSEA Publication Office:
143 Washington Ave., Albany, NY 12210.
Periodical Mail Postage paid at Post Office,
Albany, New York 12288.
Postmaster: Send address changes to:
CSEA, Attn: Membership Department,
143 Washington Ave., Albany, NY 12210.
CSEA on-line: The CSEA web site
can be accessed at www.csealocal1000.net
Readers:
Send any comments, complaints, suggestions or ideas to:
Publisher, The Work Force, 143 Washington Avenue,
Albany, NY 12210-2303.
C O M M U N I C AT I O N S A S S O C I AT E S
RACHEL LANGERT
DAVID GALARZA
JANICE MARRA
THERESE ASSALIAN
MARK M. KOTZIN
RON WOFFORD
ED MOLITOR
Long Island Region
(631) 462-0030
Metropolitan Region
(212) 406-2156
Southern Region
(845) 831-1000
Capital Region
(518) 785-4400
Central Region
(315) 433-0050
Western Region
(716) 886-0391
Headquarters
(518) 257-1272
The Publications Committee
LONG ISLAND REGION Jean Ahlert
METROPOLITAN REGION Lamont “Dutch” Wade
SOUTHERN REGION Vacant
CAPITAL REGION Helen Fischedick
CENTRAL REGION Bruce Damalt, Chair
WESTERN REGION James V. Kurtz
Putting the brakes on runaway prescription
drug costs is CSEA’s priority.
ne of the most significant fights ahead in a
year that promises to be filled with a number
of major challenges, will be CSEA’s campaign to control
the runaway costs of prescription drugs.
O
These rising costs are the primary factor in
health care increases that are squeezing consumers,
businesses and governments alike. We’re all being
gouged and the reasons are not quite legitimate. The
big drug companies are making obscene profits at our
expense.
The pharmaceutical industry has tried to chalk it all
up to the cost of research and development. But the facts tell a different
story of corporate greed, unethical marketing and outrageous
governmental influence peddling.
The Bush Administration is on record opposing any reform to
regulate profits of drug companies, even though this approach has been
adopted by most other industrialized nations.
While the most meaningful reform would have to come from the
federal government, there are steps that could be taken at the state level
to put the brakes on the exorbitant drug price increases that profit the
pharmaceutical companies. CSEA believes New York must look to recent
legislation in Maine, Michigan and Florida as models for reform.
CSEA raised this issue last spring and pointed that one estimate
projected New York could save $1.6 billion annually in Medicaid costs
alone by regulating prescription drug prices. CSEA’s call for action back
then was ignored. Given the fiscal crisis facing the state and its
localities, it would be the height of irresponsibility for our elected
leaders to ignore this issue.
P.S. I want to take this opportunity on behalf of the statewide officers of
CSEA to wish all of you and your families the warmest of holiday
seasons.
Page
4
THE WORK FORCE
December 2002
Governor still silent on decent
treatment for mentally ill
ALBANY — The Pataki
administration continues to
ignore its responsibility to
adequately care for people with
mental illness despite CSEA’s
relentless call to end the
neglect.
CSEA has expressed no
confidence in the leadership of
the state Office of Mental
Health to initiate any
meaningful reform. In October,
CSEA President Danny
Donohue called on Gov. George
Pataki to personally intervene
to end the mistreatment of
individuals with mental illness.
The CSEA leader made the
call following the latest in a
series of New York Times
exposes detailing the
administration’s scandalous
dumping of patients into
substandard living conditions
in poorly maintained and
unregulated private programs.
The governor has remained
silent and has pointedly
avoided answering questions
about the scandals.
“The moral bankruptcy of
the state’s mental health
policies demand immediate
and extraordinary measures
and CSEA will not let this issue
be ignored,” Donohue said.
“What is even more outrageous
is that most of the so-called
‘advocates for people with
mental illness’ have also been
silent — CSEA is practically the
only organization speaking out
for patients and calling the
Pataki administration to
account for their
irresponsibility.
Contractors
Many of the organizations
that represent themselves as
advocates for the mentally ill
are in fact private or not-forprofit service providers who
operate under state contracts
and grants from the Office of
Mental Health.
CSEA has charged that their
lack of criticism of the Pataki
administration’s mistreatment
of individuals with mental
illness is directly tied to
securing their state funding.
CSEA has long advocated for
the state to live up to its
commitment to reform the
mental health system into a
balanced, community-based
system of care better utilizing
existing resources including
the CSEA work force and
facilities of the state’s
psychiatric centers.
The union remains
concerned that the continuing
lack of response from the
Governor is setting the stage
for an attempt to close
psychiatric centers without
developing adequate
alternative care while blaming
it on the state’s approaching
budget crisis.
Fine for illegally
parking in a NYC
tunnel — $105
Fine for an adult home
that releases a person
without a plan, and
they wind up living in
a tunnel — $50
Avoiding
responsibility for New
York’s mental health
crisis while trying to
get re-elected
governor —
Shameless!
State’s fines to protect mentally ill are insane
ALBANY — CSEA has discovered
that New York state fines for
mistreatment of people with
mental illness are lower than
those for most traffic violations.
As part of ongoing efforts to
get Gov. George E. Pataki to end
his administration’s
mistreatment of people with
mental illness, CSEA produced a
list of state Health Department
fines for various violations by
adult home operators as well as
a list of New York City parking
violation fines. In most cases, the
fines dealing with parking were
higher than those dealing with
human lives.
“It costs you twice as much for
parking in a no standing zone in
New York City than it does for
failing to provide emergency care
for a patient who needs it,” said
CSEA President Danny Donohue.
“That says something very scary
about the state’s priorities.”
CSEA has been one of the
state’s leading advocates for
mental health reform. Earlier this
month, the union called on Gov.
Pataki to personally intervene
following new revelations about
mistreatment of people with
mental illness published by The
New York Times.
Some response
The state Health Department
recently increased some fines for
mistreatment of individuals in
adult homes, but only in direct
response to issues raised in the
Times articles.
The Times reported hundreds
of former state psychiatric
patients have become virtual
prisoners dumped and kept in
unregulated nursing homes.
The revelations followed a
series of reports last spring
showing New York’s mental
health officials have been
dumping other patients into
substandard living conditions in
poorly maintained and poorly
regulated adult homes. In both
sets of circumstances, the
individuals rarely received
therapeutic treatment for their
mental illness.
Donohue said Pataki has yet to
respond, calling the governor’s
silence, “deafening and
shameful.”
The governor was expected to
address the adult home issues
raised in his own
administration’s task force report
weeks ago. But there has been no
word to date from the governor
on that subject. CSEA believes
the administration’s draft report
is a sham anyway since it does
not address the full range of
deficiencies requiring reform in
the mental health system.
“M
y union brings job
security, benefits
and a safe workplace. I
love the union. CSEA is
the way to be!
”
— Renee Verna Morant,
clerk II, Long Island
Development Center
Local
— Ed Molitor
December 2002
THE WORK FORCE
Page
5
Fired jail
workers fight,
win jobs back
The
arrogance
and cruelty
of CMS’
behavior is
reminiscent
of the
robber
barons.
COLONIE — Five workers fired by
the private medical contractor at
the Albany County Jail are back
on the job and claiming victory.
Following a flurry of negative
press reports, a mandate from
the county Legislature and
pressure to right a wrong,
Correctional Medical Services
(CMS) offered to rehire the
workers. The workers scored a
big win by bravely standing up
for their rights and in doing so
handed their employer an
embarrassing public defeat.
As reported in the November
Work Force, the workers were
fired for participating in a rally
organized to draw attention to
their efforts to join CSEA.
The victorious workers
received substantial press
coverage, including an editorial in
Schenectady’s Daily Gazette that
called the dismissals
“outrageous.”
The editorial railing CMS
included comment from Albany
County Comptroller Mike
Conners saying, “The arrogance
“H
aving a union gives
you confidence that
someone is on your side,
that you can go to with
any job problem, and lean
on for support”
— Therese Assalian
— John Droma, Asst.
Engineer, Wende
Correctional Facility,
CSEA member for 19
years
Page
6
THE WORK FORCE
and cruelty of CMS’
behavior is
reminiscent of the
robber barons.”
An article in the
Albany Times Union
highlighted an
ongoing investigation
by the state
Protestors (above and below left) voice their
Commission of
concern over union busting activities by CMS
Corrections looking
before an Albany County Legislature meeting.
into complaints of
being bombarded with phone
substandard care. The Times
calls, the county Legislature’s
Union described testimony by a
resolution was still stinging CMS
onetime medical director who
management, which faced
said that CMS was guilty of
termination of a $3.5 million
cutting corners to maximize
contract.
profits.
Finally the company yielded to
The investigation and the
the pressure and sent letters to
unfavorable editorials, cartoons
the workers offering their jobs
and articles proved to be a public
back. As of early November all
relations nightmare for the
five were back at work.
company.
The workers’ efforts to join
The workers had strong
CSEA are still at issue.
support from the public. Many
Though 95 percent of the
people called Albany County
employees
signed cards to be
Sheriff Jim Campbell directly
recognized,
CMS has consistently
demanding the workers be
refused to do so.
rehired.
Instead, the corporation
While the sheriff’s office was
continues its campaign of
intimidation and union-busting
tactics. For this, and for the
firings, CMS will have to answer
to possible charges of unfair
labor practices. The charges,
filed by CSEA, are currently being
investigated by the NLRB to
determine if a complaint will be
issued. A ruling is expected
shortly.
December 2002
Spa County DMV clerks put
brakes on alleged fraud ring
CLIFTON PARK — CSEArepresented clerks at
Department of Motor
Vehicle (DMV) offices in
the Capital Region were
instrumental in halting a
fraudulent document
ring operating
throughout the state,
authorities said.
Several suspects were
arrested in late October
over a three-day period
at DMV offices in
Schenectady, Saratoga
and Rensselaer counties.
The CSEA members are
being credited for their
keen powers of
observation as well as
the creative strategies
used to detain the
suspects.
Those arrested and
their alleged activities
are now the subject of a
federal probe by the
Immigration and
Naturalization Service
(INS).
For weeks, clerks at
the Saratoga County
DMV in Clifton Park were
noticing irregularities in
supporting documents
used to obtain licenses.
Their suspicions were
confirmed when the
DMV Operations unit
notified offices of this
unusual pattern
occurring throughout
the Capital Region.
The alert came on the
heels of increased
security measures at
DMV offices throughout
the state after it was
discovered terrorists
involved in the Sept. 11
attacks used illegally
obtained driver’s
licenses.
The increased
security meant extra
training for DMV clerks
who learned how to
recognize forged
documents. Saratoga
County District Attorney
James A. Murphy III was
quoted in a local paper
as saying he is very
proud of the “sharp-eyed
employees at the DMV
offices.”
Authorities allege the
men involved in the
fraud were selling forged
documents to illegal
immigrants. The phony
documents, such as
passports and Social
in illegal aliens and with
filing forged documents
with the INS.
How they helped
One recent morning,
clerk John Lansburg was
working at the Saratoga
County DMV counter
when he received some
irregular documents
from a man wanting a
license.
He conferred with
clerk Tami Watulak, who
EAGLE EYES — CSEA members from the
Saratoga County Department of Motor Vehicles
office, who helped authorities arrest alleged
members of a fradulent document ring. Other
Capital Region DMV offices also were part of the
case.
Security cards, were
used to support an
application for a license.
Authorities allege
illegal immigrants from
the New York City area
were being driven to the
Capital Region for
licenses. Some of the
men arrested face
criminal charges alleging
they used phony IDs
while trying to obtain
driver’s licenses in the
Capital Region. Others
arrested, including one
man believed to be the
ringleader, will be
charged with trafficking
agreed the documents
were suspect. Watulak
placed a call to
investigators who asked
the workers to stall the
man until they could get
there. “I knew it would
take a while for them to
get here from downtown
Albany,” Lansburg said.
“I told him he flunked
his exam and asked if he
wanted to take it over,”
said Lansburg. The man
agreed and was
completing the exam for
a third time when
investigators arrived.
Soon after, Watulak
noticed a man looking
around the DMV offices.
“He appeared to be
looking for someone,”
said Watulak. “I asked
him if he needed any
help, he said no and
quickly left,” Watulak
recalled.
The next morning a
man approached the
window attempting to
register a car. Watulak
remembered him from
the previous day and
scrutinized his
documents, which she
said also appeared
suspicious. She made
another phone call and
that man too was later
detained.
Quiet arrest
On the same day,
police in Ballston Spa
arrested a man police
say they believe to be
the ringleader. DMV
clerks were able to
facilitate his arrest
without causing a scene
by inviting the man to a
private room to
complete his exam. He
accepted the invitation
only to find the Ballston
Spa police waiting for
him when he entered the
room.
Multiple arrests were
also made in
Schenectady and
Rensselaer counties.
Pam Gary, CSEArepresented Senior
Motor Vehicle Clerk in
Clifton Park said she is
not surprised that the
clerks in her office and
throughout the region
played such a crucial
role in the case. “We all
work together, like a
team,” she said.
Saratoga County
District Attorney
James A. Murphy
III was quoted in
a local paper as
saying he is very
proud of the
“sharp-eyed
employees at the
DMV offices.”
“I
f you are a public sector
employee, you better have
a CSEA membership card. Don’t
leave home without it.
”
— Cecilia Connors, deputy
chief clerk City of Glen Cove
Local
— Therese Assalian
December 2002
THE WORK FORCE
Page
7
Cook-Chill drivers deliver safety
37 CSEA members
work at the Cook-Chill
plant.
Cook-Chill drivers
carted 5 million
pounds of food across
the state over the past
year alone, and haul
up to 30,000 pounds
a day.
The drivers have
driven more than
159,000 miles this
year.
ORANGEBURG — A team of seven
CSEA drivers from the Cook-Chill
Production Center travel from Long
Island to Buffalo every Monday
through Thursday, often through
torrential rain or blinding snow, to
feed thousands of people living in
state residential facilities.
The drivers have been honored
for their safety on the road by the
New York State Motor Truck
Association for the past four
consecutive years. This year, the
team was awarded with a
fourth-place finish in the
association’s Fleet Safety Awards,
out of more than 750 fleets covered
by the association statewide. The
awards are judged by comparing
driving records to state and
national averages.
Cook-Chill, a food production
and distribution center on the
campus of Rockland Psychiatric
Center, produces food and
beverages that are served at
facilities covered by the state Office
of Mental Health, Office of Mental
Retardation and Developmental
Disabilities and Office of Children
and Family Services, as well as
non-profit, private hospitals.
Cook-Chill is one of only two such
food production centers in the
state, with the other, located in
Rome, serving primarily
correctional facilities.
“All of this food is delivered with
a team of seven drivers,” CSEA
Rockland Psychiatric Center Local
President Pamela Alexander said.
“They drive all over the state just
to get food to these facilities and
they are on the road for many
hours.”
The Cook-Chill drivers take their
responsibilities seriously.
“We’ve had two accidents over
the past eight years that Cook-Chill
has been open,” Bill Melvin, a
dispatcher/driver and eight-year
CSEA member, said. “Neither one of
them was our fault. This year alone,
this fleet has driven over 159,000
miles.”
Melvin added that most of the
fleet’s driving is done in New York
City, where deliveries are made to
facilities each day.
Winning
management’s respect
The workers have also won the
respect of the center’s
management.
“These drivers work hard to
deliver the food, maintain the
safety and cleanliness of the food
and trucks and act as our customer
service representatives at the
facilities,” Flo Corwin, Cook-Chill’s
Operations Manager, said. “I’ve
developed a great respect for these
drivers since I’ve been here.”
hese people all
work together
“withTmanagement
to
deliver 5 million
pounds of food per
year, and up to 30,000
pounds of food per day.
That’s a lot of work,
and I’m proud of these
workers.
”
— Pamela Alexander,
CSEA Rockland
Psychiatric Center
Local president
Anthony Myers loads a Cook-Chill production truck headed to New York
City.
Page
8
THE WORK FORCE
December 2002
Chris Morrison gets in a
Cook-Chill production truck.
While on the road, the drivers
are responsible for basic truck and
trailer maintenance, delivering food
on a timely schedule and ensuring
that trailers are properly
refrigerated.
The extensive time spent on the
road doesn’t diminish the drivers’
dedication to their jobs.
Melvin said that the workers are
willing to come to work early and
stay late to ensure that orders are
delivered to facilities on schedule.
“We’re like a big family,” he said.
“When it snows, none of us goes
home until everyone comes back
safely.”
Cook-Chill drivers are also
constantly on call to lend a hand
during emergencies and the drivers
have assisted with food and supply
deliveries during incidents such as
the 1998 North Country Ice Storm
and the aftermath of Sept. 11. Many
of the drivers are also trained as
emergency medical technicians and
hazardous materials specialists —
skills that have assisted them on
the road.
“We were hauling food, water and
medical supplies to New York City
on and after Sept. 11,” Melvin said.
“Yet, we managed to keep our
regular schedule. All of that work
was overtime.”
— Janice Marra
CSEA members at Mt. Vernon
schools sweep out ServiceMaster
MOUNT VERNON — CSEA
maintenance workers at the
Mount Vernon School District
recently swept private
contractor ServiceMaster out of
their hallways with a plan that
allows public employees to
maintain control of the
district’s custodial services.
While administrators for the
district were reviewing the plan
at press time, Board of
Education President Gerald
Coleman recently promised the
workers that they are not
considering contracting out
with the private company.
“We will look at on-site
opportunities and we hope that
we can come together on this
issue to look at all of our
options,” he said at a recent
board meeting.
CSEA Mount Vernon School
District Unit President Bill
Hughes praised the board’s
position, but noted that the
union is planning to meet with
board members again regarding
the proposal.
“Hopefully, we impressed
them with our plan,” he said.
“Our workers are keeping the
district above water financially.
If it wasn’t for our workers
thinking of this proposal, we
would be in trouble.”
Second battle
This is the second time in
one year that CSEA members at
the district have been faced
with a ServiceMaster proposal.
Last spring, after CSEA leaders
mobilized against the plan,
Board of Education members
backed off on the multimilliondollar proposal that the
company was pitching to the
cash-strapped district.
This time, CSEA workers at
the district mobilized against
ServiceMaster with a plan of
their own to save money and
keep their jobs public, working
with CSEA Westchester County
“O
Manuel Moreno and Jeanine Bicknese, both CSEA members,
clean a cafeteria in the Mount Vernon School District.
Local President Gary Conley,
Southern Region President
Diane Hewitt and union staff.
Bill Blake, a head custodian
and nine-year CSEA member at
Mount Vernon Schools, worked
with other custodial and
grounds employees to devise a
plan that emphasizes worker
accountability and efficiency.
Instead of ServiceMaster
supervising employees and
maintaining equipment, the
workers themselves would take
control of the schools’
custodial services with a sitebased management plan.
Worker training
Under the plan, CSEA
workers would provide job
training to custodians, cleaners
and grounds workers and
conduct inventories on
equipment and supplies in lieu
of school administrators.
The workers’ proposal also
calls for an accountability
system for the employees that
would be managed by CSEA
workers themselves. The Chief
Head Custodian would oversee
all school head custodians, who
in turn supervise custodians
and cleaners. The Master
Maintenance Mechanic would
supervise all maintenance
workers. The Custodial
Inventory Control and Training
Supervisor would be in charge
of all inventory, supply orders
and training sessions.
“We went to our weakest
points first and worked to
strengthen them,” Blake said.
“With accountability issues, we
met with the administration and
worked through the grievance
process to be followed.”
While the proposal still needs
to gain final approval from the
Board of Education, Blake is
proud of the members’ work.
“We started with a skeleton
and fattened it up,” he said. “We
made our weaknesses our
strengths, and the workers are
all a part of possible solution
because we all pitched in.”
ur workers
are
keeping the
district above
water financially.
If it wasn’t for
our workers
thinking of this
proposal, we
would be in
trouble.
”
“O
nly CSEA gives us the
training we need in
order to do the best job
possible.
”
— Rose Finnigan, technical
staff assistant, Longwood
School District
— Janice Marra
December 2002
THE WORK FORCE
Page
9
Rising prescription drug costs —
a dose of bad medicine
Prescription drug prices are soaring out of
control, affecting all of us. The growth in
consumer drug spending has increased by
double digits every year since 1995. In fact,
increases in prescription costs are projected
at an annual rate of close to 20 percent, faster
than any other component of group health
plan costs.
However, high prices do not necessarily
mean better drugs. The pharmaceutical
industry increasingly directs its revenues
toward profits and marketing. The
pharmaceutical industry is the most profitable
in the world, earning $125 billion a year. This
profit margin far surpasses the average profit
margins of other industries. What’s most
infuriating about this situation is the fact that
we’re all paying the bill.
As people choose between eating and
paying for their medicine, executives of the
top U.S. pharmaceutical companies earn
millions in compensation. For example, the
chairman of one pharmaceutical company
made over $40 million in the year 2000.
“I have made lowering the cost of
prescription drugs in New York a top
priority for our union,” said CSEA
President Danny Donohue. “The drug
companies will fight hard to protect their
excessive profits. CSEA members must be
ready to mobilize around this issue and
demand action.”
For most CSEA members, prescription drug
coverage has been a benefit that demonstrates
the value of union membership. However, it is
not an issue that CSEA members can take for
granted. The spiraling costs of prescription
‘
drugs directly affect the cost of the insurance
premiums and have increasingly become the
most contentious issue in contract
negotiations in recent years.
It’s time to stand up to the pharmaceutical
companies. Not just for our own sake, but on
behalf of the sick, the elderly and the 70
million Americans who currently have no drug
coverage at all.
CSEA members must
be ready to mobilize
around this issue
and demand action.
Page
10
December 2002
“First Aid Kits” developed
In the coming weeks and months CSEA will
step up our efforts to battle this issue. CSEA is
rolling out a campaign to directly involve
members with action steps they can take in
order to achieve lower prescription drug
prices in New York. The union has devised a
‘first aid kit’ titled “Prescription Drug Costs...
A Tough Pill to Swallow.” The kits contain
several items including talking points, phone
scripts and sample letters to legislators.
The kits have been presented at the CSEA
Retirees Delegate Meeting, the Annual
Delegates Meeting and the Women’s
Conference.
The kit details some disturbing facts. For
instance, Americans currently pay 30 to 70
percent more than people in Mexico or
Canada for prescription drugs. The United
States is the only industrialized nation in the
world without regulation of the
pharmaceutical industry’s pricing practices.
Solutions at the state level
With federal legislation stalled, we must
urge our state legislators to take action to
address this problem.
One solution involves New York using its
buying power to negotiate with prescription
drug companies to lower prices. Other states
such as Maine, Florida and California have
already done this.
New York can also save millions of dollars a
year by negotiating drug rebates for its
Medicaid program. Other states have also
implemented this strategy successfully.
Myths versus realities
The kit also details how pharmaceutical
companies are pouring far more money into
marketing and advertising their products than
developing new and better drugs. Marketing
budgets are more
than 4 1/2 times as
much as their
research and
development
budgets. The myth
that higher prices
are needed to
support research
and development is
a falsehood spread
by industry officials.
All of us will
eventually feel the
repercussions of
high prescription
drug costs either
directly or
indirectly. CSEA
must take the lead
CSEA retirees look over the “first
on this issue and let aid kit” at the Retiree Delegates
our elected officials Meeting.
and the
pharmaceutical
industry know
that we mean
business.
As a CSEA
member, your
direct
involvement is
crucial to
achieving lower
prescription drug
prices in New
York. Stand up to
pharmaceutical companies on behalf of your fellow
union brothers and sisters as well as the sick, elderly
and uninsured. Contact your region Political Action
Coordinator for more information on the ‘first aid kit’
and how you can get involved.
Region Political Action Coordinators
Region
Name
Telephone #
Long Island
Metropolitan
Southern
Capital
Central
Western
Gretchen Penn
Matt D’Amico
Jason Haenel
Adam Acquario
Michael Ottaviano
William Benfanti
(631) 462-0030
(212) 406-2156
(845) 831-1000
(518) 785-4400
(315) 433-0050
(716) 886-0391
THE WORK FORCE
CSEA activist check list
As a CSEA leader and activist, your direct involvement is crucial to
achieving lower prescription drug prices in New York. The following is a
checklist of activities you can undertake to help achieve this important
goal.
❑ Contact your region Political Action Coordinator to obtain a copy of
the “first aid kit.” The kit will give you the knowledge and tools to fight
for affordable prescription drugs.
❑ Complete the activist sign-up
card provided in the kit. This
information will allow CSEA to
contact you with updates,
provide you with additional
material, and call on
your help should we
need immediate
assistance.
❑ Distribute the
Prescription
Campaign Fliers to
your co-workers. If
permitted, post
fliers on your
CSEA bulletin board at
work.
❑ Using the sample letters in the First Aid Kit, write a letter to your
state Senator and Assembly member regarding the high costs of
prescription drugs. Be sure to include your return address and the
legislator’s address.
❑ Discuss the issue of prescription drugs with your co-workers at a
membership meeting, lunch-and-learn, union social occasion or other
available forum. Use the talking points in the First Aid Kit as a guide.
Encourage others to get involved.
❑ Work with your Region Political Action Coordinator and meet with
your state Senator and Assembly member to discuss prescription drug
costs. Or, meet with your local government officials and encourage them
State members see related story, page 16.
December 2002
Page
11
Rockland County evacuation shows
labor-management success
POMONA — The recent evacuation of nearly 200
workers at a Rockland County health complex,
mostly CSEA members, is a solid example of how
being prepared can make the difference in an
emergency, union leaders said.
County maintenance workers had been repairing
a sewer pipe leak in the ceiling of a third-floor
physical therapy room in the nine-story Building A. A
noxious liquid leaking from the pipes caused a musty
odor that affected several workers.
Concerned about the odor and the
symptoms, the county evacuated the first
three floors of the building and contacted
county emergency workers, including the
Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) Response
Team. Workers and clients on the remaining
floors were allowed to remain in the building
because there was no indication of symptoms
or odors on the upper floors.
CSEA member Barbara Netel, 41, a
physical therapy employee at the Dr. Robert
L. Yeager Health Center, died after going into
cardiac arrest shortly before the center was
evacuated. (Netel’s death was first reported in
the November Work Force.)
While Netel worked in the area near the
leak’s origin, medical examiners have
determined that Netel’s death was unrelated
to the leaked substance.
CSEA Rockland County leaders lauded the
evacuation procedures and county response.
“The county and emergency crews
responded within minutes,” CSEA Rockland
County Unit President Georgia Gentile said.
“The evacuation went very smoothly, and the
employees’ health and safety was the main
concern for both the union and the county.”
Members help members
CSEA nurses — also ordered from the
building — began tending to other workers in
front of the building, checking vital signs and
offering water.
“It was scary, but I knew that I was better
off staying there rather than leaving,” said
CSEA nurse Judith Hurley. “My first instinct,
as a nurse, was to help others. We were trying
to keep people calm, despite our own fears
about what was happening. The people
responded very well, although they were very
scared.”
In addition to county emergency workers,
local fire departments, ambulance companies
and emergency personnel from the Salvation
Army and American Red Cross were on the
scene to tend to the evacuated workers.
Page
12
THE WORK FORCE
“The county really went the extra
mile in responding to this
emergency,” CSEA Rockland County
Local President William Riccaldo
said.
“The response was very fast, and
the procedures and equipment they CSEA Southern Region President Diane Hewitt and
used that day were second to none. I Rockland County Local President William Riccaldo
can’t say enough about the great job inspect area of leak that forced Rockland County
the county did in responding to this Medical Center evacuation.
situation.”
and high concern that the county showed for
Riccaldo noted that the county
the safety of its employees,” she said. “These
Department of Hospitals Safety Committee
safety concerns were followed up immediately
had drilled just a week before. The county
by the county with concerns for their
also has its own safety committee, and CSEA
employees’ state of mind. It shows what can
members are represented on both, he said,
happen when labor and management work
giving union members a voice in the critical
together.”
decisions that go into planning for
CSEA is working with Rockland County in
emergencies.
determining the leak’s cause. Tests have
While many of the evacuated workers
shown the substance that leaked to be nonwere medically treated on the scene, three
toxic but CSEA Occupational Safety & Health
people were hospitalized for their symptoms.
staff are investigating the incident along with
union leaders from Rockland County.
Decontaminated, just in case
“We’re sharing information with the
For 89 county employees, including
county to ensure that the health and safety of
Hurley, treatment included decontamination
the employees remains protected,” Riccaldo
by emergency workers.
said. “We’re in a partnership with Rockland
“It was very hard on everyone,” she said.
County to do everything in our power to
“Most of us didn’t know what was happening
ensure that we respond to the employees in a
to us until we actually approached the tent.”
proper manner.”
To undergo the process, the workers
— Janice Marra
stripped down to their underwear and were
hosed down with alternating sprays of hot
and cold water.
While the building was reopened that
The CSEA Rockland County Local is
evening, the room in which the leak originated
collecting
donations for Netel’s 11 and
remained closed, pending an investigation and
7-year-old
daughters. The 15-year county
replacement of fixtures.
employee
lived
in Monroe, Orange County
When employees returned to work the
and
is
also
survived
by her husband, Mark.
next day, they were offered counseling and
For
more
information
or to send a
EAP services to deal with not only the
donation, contact the Rockland County
evacuation, but with the death of a CSEA
Local by mail at CSEA Rockland County
member who died the day of the leak — a
Local 844, 120 North Main Street, New City,
move that was commended by CSEA Southern
NY 10956, or by telephone at
Region President Diane Hewitt during her visit
to the site.
(845) 638-4844.
“I was most impressed with the response
December 2002
“Shining stars” for community service at SUNY Oswego
OSWEGO —
While CSEA
recently
walked away
with a “Star
of
Excellence”
award from
AFSCME in
part due to
the Central Region’s Community
Service Drive, it’s locals like the
SUNY Oswego Local that are really
helping make a difference in their
community, with no big awards,
and very little hoopla or fanfare.
The region started its“Making A
Difference” Community Service
Drive last summer and encouraged
all region locals to get involved in
community service projects. The
SUNY Oswego Local has outshined
all the other locals, distinguishing
itself by participating in four
separate community projects, with
more in the pipeline.
According to Local President
Joe Miceli, a laborer for the
campus’ trucking department, the
projects have been worthwhile
and his members have gotten
excited and involved over them.
Involving the members
The SUNY Oswego Local formed
a Community Service Committee
to determine a project. Based on
membership suggestions, the
primary project the local focused
on was a toy drive for the
Pediatric Unit of Oswego Hospital.
“We didn’t want it to be just the
officers deciding what to do on
this. We wanted to get the
membership involved.”
The local kicked it off by making
Miceli said the local plans to
continue with community service
events, and emphasized that it’s
not a difficult task for the union to
undertake.
CSEA Central Region President
Jim Moore said that he was proud
of the amount of effort and heart
that the SUNY Oswego members
have dedicated toward their
community.
“I commend the members at
SUNY Oswego for the fantastic job
they’ve done in getting involved in
community service efforts, and I
urge all our locals to take a page
out of their book and follow suit,”
he said.
CSEA members sort toys, games and videos for the Pediatric Unit at
Oswego Hospital.
— Mark M. Kotzin
a $100 donation for the drive, and
after about a month, collected
about $700, which was spent on
dozens of toys, board games,
videos and books for the
hospitalized children.
Other projects included dressdown “denim days” to raise money
for breast cancer awareness
programs, a food drive that raised
more than 1,000 pounds of food
for the area Salvation Army and
the beautification of a “green area”
near the campus in the city of
Oswego.
“The community was there for
us when it came time for a
contract last time, and I believe we
should give back,” said Miceli. “It
also puts it out there that the
members of CSEA are not just out
for themselves — that we’re
concerned about the community.”
Local Vice President Casey
Walpole, a principal clerk in the
registrar’s office, was involved in
several of the local’s
community service projects,
and said it felt good to
participate in those efforts.
An integral part of the
community
“You get a sense of
accomplishment, of fulfillment
that you’ve done something
good for the community. I
don’t want people seeing
CSEA as always having their
hand out, looking to save jobs
or get a raise. I like to see
them see us as an integral
part of the community.”
Walpole helped the local get
involved in “Project Bloom,” a
program that helps beautify
small parks throughout the
city. The local chose an
intersection nearby the
campus, and got busy with
some light landscaping and
planting flowers.
CSEA member Casey Walpole helps
out at “Project Bloom” at the SUNY
Oswego campus.
CSEA member performs benefit for
American Diabetes Association
Tenner, as me or him, not the guy named Tim at
microphone.
CSEA member Steve Tenner performed
recently with Me, Him and a Guy Named Tim
at a benefit for the American Diabetes
Association at Hasbrouck Park in Kingston.
Tenner and his band organized the benefit,
which featured three other bands, food and
raffle prizes to raise money toward a cure for
diabetes.
The event raised about $2,500 from
attendees, sponsors and the community. The
disease has afflicted several relatives of
members of the band.
Tenner is a two-year member and court
officer in the Southern Region and works in
Ulster County.
December 2002
THE WORK FORCE
Page
13
Also in 1950:
1950
52 years ago...
On Nov. 7, 1950, a salary adjustment was gained
for all state workers under the administration of
CSEA’s 16th President, Jesse B. McFarland. During his
term as president the adjustment was his No. 1
objective.
During his administration McFarland worked
toward getting all state workers to join the
retirement plan, extending the competitive class
across the state, improving retirement benefits, and
enforcing regulations of the hours of work and the
leaves of absences workers were allowed to have.
Jesse B. McFarland
President McFarland was also a member of the
State Committee on Social Security and Related Pension Problems, which
passed three acts that extended federal Social Security coverage to certain
groups not having retirement coverage.This allowed the extension of Social
Security programs through joint federal and state action.
Page
14
THE WORK FORCE
December 2002
❃ Saturday morning children’s
programming begins.
❃ Korean War begins when North
Korean Communist forces invade
South Korea.
❃ Broadway classic Guys and Dolls debuts
at the 46th Street Theater and
becomes an instant hit.The show ran
for three years and became one of
the Great White Way’s longestrunning shows, with 1,200
performances.
❃ Charles Schulz introduces the Peanuts
comic strip.
❃ The first Xerox copier is produced.
❃ Richard Lawler performs the first
successful kidney transplant at Loyola
University.
❃ Minneapolis Lakers beat the Syracuse
Nationals in the NBA Championships,
4-2.
Employee Assistance Programs
offer union members help
Employee Assistance Program
coordinators say many CSEA
members visit their offices to
borrow a book or video dealing
with substance abuse, marital
problems or a gambling addiction.
But they often stay for more
than an hour, releasing a flood of
pent-up anxieties held back
sometimes for years by a dam of
shame or fear.
What the coordinators want
members to know most is that
their doors are always open but
nothing of any discussion ever
leaves their offices.
Confidential help
EAP is a labor-management
agreement to provide services for
employees aimed at making
workers more productive by
helping them cope —
confidentially — with problems
they may face in and out of the
workplace.
CSEA pioneered the program
with New York State in the late
1970s and has been a strong
supporter since.
While substance abuse is often
the root of many problems, CSEA
EAP Committee member Ellen
Donovan said the assistance
program offers help in a myriad of
areas.
They include health care proxies,
wills, cultural differences for
foreign workers, parenting help —
for parents and the children of
elderly parents, stress, career
issues, problems with a boss,
financial problems and more.
No problem is too big or too
small, said Donovan, a state
Department of Health worker.
EAP does not directly provide
counseling therapy, financial, legal
or medical assistance.
Assessment, referral
Full-time or part-time EAP
coordinators — some of them
CSEA members — interview their
“clients,” make an assessment and
prepare a referral, said CSEA
member and part-time coordinator
Christopher Cahill, a Department
of Environmental Conservation
employee in the southern
Adirondacks.
EAP’s help is also available to
the spouses, mothers, fathers,
brothers, sisters and children of
CSEA members.
Today most state agencies have
EAP in place. The program also
has 65 coordinators overseeing
programs helping up to 35,000
CSEA local government members.
EAP is also a valuable tool for
management, giving employers an
option other than discipline to
help their workers get help.
The Employee Assistance
Program also coordinates food
drives, blood drives, and other
charitable events, allowing
workers to help others in need,
building morale.
EAP coordinators and
volunteers emphasize any request
made by an employee is kept
confidential. In fact, volunteers
don’t keep records so nothing may
be learned from a worker’s visit.
If you think you need help,
seek out an EAP coordinator in
your workplace today!
Be sure to buy union over the holidays
If you haven’t already made it a
habit to look for the union label
when shopping for goods and
services, this holiday season is a
good time to start.
Look for the union label is more
than just a catchy jingle. The union
label is a guarantee that goods and
services are made or delivered
under conditions that are mutually
agreed to by the employer and the
union. It also guarantees quality
because it means products and
services are made or delivered by
skilled workers who are treated
fairly by their employer because of
their union.
“Buying ‘Made in America’
unionized products, like
automobiles, tires, appliances,
clothing and shoes or flying on
unionized airlines, staying at
unionized hotels, reading unionized
newspapers, is all part of everyday
life,” said CSEA Treasurer Maureen
Malone. “Supporting and buying
union made goods and services
keeps workers earning a living
wage, safe in their work sites and
keeps the quality of the goods and
services we buy at superior levels.”
Buying union label products and
services means more business for
companies that treat their
employees fairly. This, in turn,
makes it easier for those
companies to negotiate even better
contracts with the union, which
helps the economy of communities
where union workers live.
Malone said just as important as
buying union label goods and
services is honoring boycotts of
anti-union companies’ goods and
services. “Shopping at anti-union
stores, which give the impression
of selling made in the U.S.A. goods
but use sweatshop workers — both
adult and children — to produce
the goods in substandard
conditions, is undermining future
jobs for our children and
grandchildren at a decent and
equitable wage,” she said.
Employee
Assistance
Programs were
pioneered by the
R.H. Macy Co. in
the 1930s.
Macy’s realized it
was cheaper to
rehabilitate
workers and train
them to help
others, than to
fire them.
LifeWorks, a
resource and
referral program
for CSEA members
employed by New
York State
executive branch
agencies. Many of
the articles can be
accessed online at
www.lifeworks.com
user id: nys,
password: 2670.
Or, to talk with a
LifeWorks
consultant, call:
1-800-362-9874.
For more information on union
label products and services,
including boycott lists, visit the
Union Label & Service Trades
Department, AFL-CIO Home Page
at www.unionlabel.org.
December 2002
THE WORK FORCE
Page
15
What’s In It For You?
NOTICE — DENTAL SPECIALIST POLICY
CHANGE
The CSEA Employee Benefit Fund, in an
effort to retain and recruit general dentistry
practices as participating providers, is
instituting a policy change. For services
rendered on or after Jan. 1, 2003, the Fund will
no longer require certified specialists in the
fields of Oral Surgery, Periodontics, and
Endodontics, who practice in a participating
General Dentistry Practice, to accept the plan
allowances as payment in full.
If a member requires treatment from a
specialist in a participating general dentistry
practice, he/she will be informed of the
specialist’s right to balance bill and will be
responsible for the difference between the
specialist’s customary charge for the service
and the allowance which the Fund pays under
the member’s dental plan. Before a member or
dependent is treated by such a specialist, the
member will be asked to sign an
acknowledgment of responsibility for charges
not covered by their dental plan.
PLATINUM VISION GROUPS — PLAN
IMPROVEMENT
With the start of the new year, the CSEA
Employee Benefit Fund is making an
improvement to your vision care benefit.
Previously, the Platinum Vision Plan has
covered Standard Progressive Addition lenses
(PAL) as part of the program and Premier
Progressive Addition lenses could be added as
a rider at additional cost. Progressive Addition
lenses are invisible bifocals. Premier PALs
include name brands such as Varilux, Seiko,
Kodak and Rodenstock.
Effective Jan. 1, 2003 Premier Progressive
addition lenses will be added automatically to
your benefit coverage. This change will end any
confusion over which PALs are covered under
the standard plan and which may require outof-pocket cost.
RETIREE DENTAL PLAN — YOU HAVEN’T
MISSED THE BOAT
In July the CSEA EBF announced the
creation of their new Retiree Dental Plan. This
plan is offered as an alternative to the
programs offered through CSEA and AFSCME
and is designed to help both State and Local
Government retirees manage the ever
increasing cost of dental care. Some of the plan
features are:
$1,200 Annual Maximum with a $25 Annual
Deductible/$100 Family Maximum per year
billed after first claim submission of the year.
Plan services cover many types of dental
services. Orthodontics are not included.
Three tier monthly rate schedule: $30
Individual/$60 Retiree & Spouse/$90 Retiree &
Family. One year mandatory contract is
required.
20 percent Discounted Rate on the second
year. This discount is offered to retirees when
signing up for a minimum of two years.
Statewide listing of Participating Plan Providers
that accept the program as payment-in-full for
covered plan services.
Members may also use non-plan providers
when traveling or living out of New York state.
Members will be responsible for dentist’s
charges that exceed the fee schedule of
allowances.
Enrollment is not automatic and certain
requirements must be met for plan eligibility:
Members must have been covered by either
the EBF State Dental Program or one of the
EBF’s four Local Government dental plans
(Sunrise, Horizon, Equinox, Dutchess)
immediately (or within 90 days) prior to
enrolling in the EBF Retiree Dental Plan.
For Local Government Retirees (Counties,
Towns, Cities, School Districts, etc.) there is an
EBF/Employer Memorandum of Agreement that
must be signed in order for these retirees to
be eligible. If your employer has refused to
sign, that municipality cannot participate in the
Retiree Plan.
Retirees who are currently continuing their
coverage through COBRA may elect to
purchase the EBF Retiree Plan at the end of
their COBRA coverage period.
It’s not too late to sign up. For further
information on this program, interested retirees
may fill out the coupon below and return it to
the address listed or they may contact the
Fund directly at 1-800-323-2732 extension 803.
Davis Vision offers
laser vision correction
Davis Vision is pleased to provide you and your
eligible dependents with the opportunity to receive
laser vision correction services. You can now save
hundreds of dollars on these elective procedures.
CSEA members will be entitled to savings of up to 25
percent off usual and customary fees* ... or receive
an additional 5 percent discount on any advertised
specials — whichever is lower.
All surgeries, including PRK and LASIK, are
performed at pre-eminent Eye Centers of Excellence,
staffed by renowned ophthalmologists and surgeons
using advanced instrumentation.
At Davis Vision, our state-of-the-art technology and
unsurpassed clinical expertise continue to provide
our clients with unprecedented cost savings and
optimum patient outcomes.
Today, Davis Vision brings new value to the
Eyecare Advantage: significant savings on laser
vision correction … a procedure that can reduce or
eliminate dependence on eyeglasses or contact
lenses.
For more information, please call 1-800-584-2866 or
visit the web site at www.davisvision.com and click
on “Laser Vision Correction.”
An Ever Better Future
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION FORM — for members interested in enrolling in the
CSEA EBF Retiree Dental Plan
NAME_________________________________________________________________
ADDRESS______________________________________________________________
CITY____________________________________ STATE________ ZIP____________
TELEPHONE________________________________
Please return this form to:
CSEA Employee Benefit Fund
One Lear Jet Lane, Suite No. 1
Latham, New York 12110
1-800-323-2732
*Some centers offer flat rates equivalent to these
discount levels due to market dynamics.
December 2002
THE WORK FORCE
Page
17
egal department upholds justice and fairness
for all members
We’ve all heard our share of lawyer jokes. But
when you need legal assistance, it’s no joking
matter. CSEA is ready to support you with attorney
representation and legal aid when you need it.
CSEA’s Legal Department was established by the
delegates in 1987 to better assist our members with
their growing legal needs.
Over the past 15 years, the Legal Department
has expanded to 12 staff attorneys, four Legal
Assistance Program administrators, six legal
assistants and eight administrative staff, plus a
network of regional attorneys around New York
state, all of whom are dedicated to providing our
members and the union with quality
representation in labor and employment law
matters.
The Legal Department has handled more than
10,000 cases in a broad range of labor and
employment issues ranging from A to Z. CSEA’s
legal team has assisted in cases from alcohol/drug
testing to anti-union harassment; from out-of-title
pay to zone scoring for Civil Service tests.
Today, the department continues to grow in
stature and philosophy along with the union — to
ultimately uphold justice and fairness for all our
members and for working people everywhere.
CSEA Legal Assistance Program
This program covers employment and labor
issues involving:
— Disciplines
— Contract Grievances and Arbitrations
— Court Litigation
— Administrative Agency Hearings
Through the Legal Assistance Program, CSEA
will support you with legal representation when an
employer’s action may constitute a reduction in
benefits, contract violation, violation of Civil Service
Law, improper disciplinary action, or other violations
of employee rights.
If you have been disciplined or have a grievance
or other problem in your workplace, immediately
contact your local or unit president or other local
representative at your job location. Many matters
have very short time limits. Your union
representatives will investigate the matter and
attempt to reach a satisfactory resolution. If the
matter cannot be resolved locally, the CSEA Labor
Relations Specialist assigned to your workplace will
review and evaluate the merits of the case and give
consideration to submitting a formal application for
Legal Assistance.
Page
18
THE WORK FORCE
The application goes to the CSEA Legal
Assistance Program Administration and CSEA
Standing Legal Committee (in certain cases) for
review. Upon further investigation, a determination
will be made as to whether the case sufficiently
merits approval of legal assistance. If legal
assistance is approved, CSEA will pay all costs
usually associated with processing your case, and
will provide representation by a CSEA staff attorney
or regional attorney.
CSEA Legal Services Program
One out of every two Americans will
need legal advice during the next 12
months. Half will attempt to deal with
the matter on their own because they
either do not know how to retain an
attorney or are afraid of the costs
associated with doing so.
Thanks to the CSEA Legal Services
Program, you don’t have to find
yourself in that uncomfortable
position. The program includes
most types of personal legal
representation you might need. CSEA
created its Legal Services Plan to provide members
and their families with the knowledge and
affordability to protect your legal rights in personal
matters. In exchange for a small enrollment fee, you
receive free specified legal services and are eligible
for discounted attorney fees for other services.
CSEA’s Legal Services Program provides you
and your dependents with attorney representation in
personal injury matters in addition to workers’
compensation, Social Security disability and
personal legal matters.
You will have peace of mind knowing that these
attorneys have been selected by CSEA for their
expertise in those areas of law and for their
commitment to our members.
Personal Injury Matters
CSEA has established a new service covering
injury claims that may involve a third party beyond
your employer. All personal injury matters including
product liability, falls, automobile, boating, aircraft
accidents, construction accidents, medical
malpractice and any other liability case with
significant personal injuries will be handled
by competent attorneys with expertise in
personal injury litigation.
December 2002
CSEA Attorney Stephen Crain is one of 12
staff attorneys available to provide members
with quality representation.
Workers’ Compensation and Social
Security Disability Matters
If you are injured on the job or sustain a
job-related illness, CSEA’s Workers’ Compensation
Legal Assistance Program can help you through the
complex steps and procedures. The program can
also help you obtain Social Security disability
benefits if you become disabled.
Representation for personal injury and worker
compensation / social security disability is
administered through the law firm of Fine, Olin and
Anderman, LLP. Access to your case file documents
via a secure website will be available to you along
with regular e-mail case updates.
Personal Legal Matters
This CSEA service provides you and your
dependents with knowledgeable and affordable legal
representation to protect your legal rights in
personal matters. An initial enrollment fee entitles
you to choose from two to five legal services
depending on the plan you choose. As a participant,
you are entitled to a list of personal legal services
(traffic tickets, real estate transactions, family court
matters, bankruptcy, landlord/tenant rights and
criminal matters) at pre-published rates. Once
enrolled, you are covered under the plan for one
year. A small renewal fee of $25 each year helps to
cover the administrative costs of providing you with
coverage.
The Legal Department is a valuable resource
available to our members. For more specific
information the Legal Department at CSEA or
any of its programs, please contact your CSEA
Region Office or CSEA Headquarters at
1-800-342-4146, extension 1443.
You can also learn more about the Legal
Department by logging onto the CSEA
members-only web page and from there, into
the Legal Department page.
Inside Albany schedule
Inside Albany is a public affairs news program
that covers informative news segments
concerning government and politics in New York
state. Many of the stories that run are extremely
relevant to CSEA members. We list the following
stations and times that carry Inside Albany for
your convenience in hopes that you tune in.
City
Station
Time(s)
SATURDAY
Binghamton
New York City
Rochester
Watertown
WSKG
WNET
WXXI
WPBS
3 p.m.
1:30 p.m.
5:30 p.m.
5 p.m.
SUNDAY
Albany
Buffalo
Long Island
New York City
Plattsburgh
Syracuse
WMHT
WNED
WLIW
WNET
WCFE
WCNY
12:30 p.m., 11:30 p.m.
10 a.m.
7 a.m.
6 a.m.
9 a.m.
1 p.m.
MONDAY
Long Island
WLIW
12 p.m.
Break in membership affects eligibility
for union office, voting privileges
A break in union membership
status can have long-term future
implications. Your membership
status affects your eligibility with
respect to:
• seeking or holding union office;
• signing nominating petitions
for potential candidates;
• voting in union elections, and;
• voting on collective bargaining
contracts.
Only members “in good
standing” can participate in these
activities. To be in “good standing,”
your dues cannot be delinquent.
If you go on unpaid leave or for
any other reason have a break in
your employment status, your dues
will not continue to be paid
through payroll deductions. You
must make arrangements to pay
your dues directly to CSEA to
continue your membership status.
If you are either laid off or placed
on leave without pay status due to
becoming disabled by accident,
illness, maternity or paternity, you
may be eligible for dues-free
membership status for a period not
to exceed one year. If you are called
up for active military duty you may
also apply for dues-free status.
Note, however, you must
continue to pay dues to run for
office.
Dues-free or gratuitous
membership allows members to
continue their insurance coverage
while out of work. It does not
protect your right to run for or
hold office. This does not apply to
members who are on leave due to
being called up for military duty.
Members on active military duty,
upon return, are considered to
have had continuous membership
status for all CSEA election
purposes.
Please notify the CSEA
Membership Records Department
at 1-800-342-4146, Ext. 1327, of any
change in your status and what
arrangements you are making to
continue your membership in
CSEA.
PEOPLE PERSON
— The PEOPLE
Person for the
month of October
is Frank Balsano of
the Western New
York DDSO. He
recruited 27 new members.
PEOPLE is CSEA and AFSCME’s
political action program aimed
at getting friends of working
families elected to Congress ...
CLAMBAKE AND FUND-RAISER
— 350 members and guests of
the Southern Tier State
Employees Local and CSEA
SUNY Binghamton Local joined
together for a clam bake and
fund-raiser for the Binghamton
area Cancer Society. The event
raised $275 for the Cancer
Society through raffles,
donations and a pie throwing
event ... FULTON COUNTY
RATIFIES AGREEMENT — The
Fulton County Unit recently
ratified a new three-year
agreement. Local President Ron
Briggs reports that the contact
was approved by a large
majority of the membership and
included pay increases for 2002
and 2003 ... LEAVE FOR BREAST
CANCER SCREENINGS — A
recent change in the Civil
Service Law now entitles state
employees up to four hours of
paid leave without charge to
leave credits for breast cancer
screenings. The benefit is open
to male and female employees.
The leave is not cumulative and
expires at the close of business
on the last day of the calendar
year. For more information,
contact the Attendance and
Leave Unit of the Department of
Civil Service at (518) 457-2295 ...
CLOTHING ALLOWANCE FOR
STATE OSU WORKERS —
CSEA members in the state
Operational Services Unit who
have worked full-time as of Oct.
1 can receive a maximum
clothing allowance of $44 for the
year. Contact your local
December 2002
president for more
details ... CSEA MAKES
STRIDES FOR BREAST
CANCER — More than
150 CSEA members,
family and friends from
throughout the Long
Island Region collected more
than $20,000 in pledge money for
the “Making Strides Against
Breast Cancer” 5K walk at Jones
Beach. The money will be used
for breast cancer research and
education ... DUE PROCESS
RIGHTS — The U.S. Court of
Appeals recently ruled that
where an employee may lose
their position if a contract
seniority grievance is successful,
the employee may have certain
pre-demotion due process
rights. This decision may apply
to promotion grievances where
CSEA contends that the
employer’s choice for promotion
violated the seniority clause of
the collective bargaining
agreement ... HONORED FOR
OUTSTANDING SERVICE —
Several CSEA members were
honored at an employee
recognition dinner in Holbrook
for 35 years of state service.
CSEA President Danny Donohue
presented the following
honorees with awards: Shirley
Baker, Chair — Human Rights
Committee, Rutha Bush, Chair —
PEOPLE Committee, Barbara
Allen — Region 1 Treasurer and
Willie Allen — President of the
Long Island Developmental
Center and Sagamore Children’s
Pscyh Center Local ... LABOR /
MANAGEMENT GRANT —
Nearly 40 CSEA members of the
Buffalo Psyciatric Center
participated in an Honors
Program underwritten by a NYS
Labor/Management grant
obtained by Local President
Robert Mootry.
THE WORK FORCE
Page
19
Skillful health care;
road repairs where you
need them; safe and orderly
school bus rides; calm,
professional responses to your
9-1-1 calls.
Your CSEA Work Force does
all this and more!
Precise college course registrations;
aides teaching the developmentally disabled;
probation security and monitoring;
caring service for people with mental illness.
Your CSEA Work Force makes it happen!
Every day of every year, the 265,000
members of CSEA make these and so many other vital services work for you.
Caring... Capable... Doing the jobs RIGHT!
w w w. c s e a l o c a l 1 0 0 0 . n e t